New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-16
AMONG THE CHURCHES.

AMONG THE CHURCHES.
THE NEWER CRITICISM OF THE BIBLE-RR,
LIGIOUS THOUGHT AND OPINION.
"The sunday school Times" is one OF the most
valuable and useful papers of Its kind In the world
Everything relating to Sunday schools is treated in
this journal fully, fairly and deyouy. But what aas
made it most valuable to all engaged in Sunday school
work has been its careful aud helpful elucdstions Of
the International Sunday school Lessons. these
oIief commentaries have been prepared BY eminent
theOogians and reflect some OF the best results Of
modern Biblical scholarship. srhe Timesr 1t q
almost needless to say is most stanchy orthodox and
its editor is conservative Of the conservatives Of
course therefore, its staff OF writers all men Of
unimpeachable orthodoxy well experts ia their
several departments. And yet these orthodox com.
mentators in this orthodox paper have saken p,stons
In regard to Biblical nterpre taon that have PANIED
and alarmed many Christian people The editor
states the fact not to apologize for It, or to coademn
the oensive interpretations but to emphasize tho tact
that Biblical criticism is progressive, and that many
popular views OF tha Bible must tall before thie
criticism. This tact elbows perhaps better than any.
thing else the raDidity with which orthodox
Christians are revising their views OF the Bible. No
one Tor instance would think OF af>using the Rev Dr.
Chambars OF this city, OF holding views Of any
kind And yet the editor OF " The Sunday School
says tllat his CRITICAL notes the opening
chapters OF Geness have caused serious alarm. Let
ters OF protest from tar and and
exoressed that minister OF the Gospei should teach
evolution" Nevertheless. the edi believes thst
the higher criticism has legitimate place in the
orthodox church aud announces his intention OF
giving II hearing - well as the more traditional
Of Princeeton, will give the tTadtionh view OF the
lessons and Canon Driver, of xord. and Professor
Delitz-ch, OF LeiDzie. win give the results Of the
The result OF all this cannot but be helpful to all
earnest students Of the Bible, although it will
necessarily offtnd any who b.lieye that every word
OF the Bible 10 inseired By God.
the Rev. Dr.. g. r. vandewater rector Of st. Luks's
Church. Brooklyn. began last evening ten days
g mission in Grace Church Cleveland DR.. yaude-
wstsrs record In the recent noteworthy mission"
held in this oty compared very tavoray with that Of
the most famous q u.issioners from England.
lie appears have the peculiar aDtituae required tor
such work. and his labors IN Cleveland will doubtless
result 10 calling tho attention Of EpscOpalians in tho
West to this rather novel form OF religious work the
Episcopal Church.
The Christian Advocate criticsss Bishop Pottsr's
recent criticism Of tho revival system 1t states that
the Methodist Church Ii concernsd this crit
iolsm Is not true. tor after conversion probston Of
six months required bsfore the convert eJtee the
right The Bishop had In view doubtless reviyas
as carried on BY irresponsible eyanselists. whose
ebief object !: TO 90 great dead Of work IN short
orderly work OF tbs churches.
"The Christian Advosats" informs Q correspondent
that Mothodsw has not formulated any doctrine on
geolsgy or noalaeg0y. Some Methodists bsisvs that
the ak creative days mean six long periods OF fms
while the oher hand of the ATTEST ssholars OF
that church believe that these creative davs literal
days OF twenty tour hours. "btl et6ers, saSs Yhs
Advocate" take the ground that the narrative ID not
10 be IL erpretod literally, except to it's fundamental
facts-the creation Of matter and an by personal
God, the tree agency and his tall and hold
that tho rest 10 Semi-pOette drapers. Some % tho
dearest thinkers Who believe both the testimony OF
che rocks and ths testimony OF Genesis hold that i'm
ago God created matter. and left 10
without farm and void to the operation Of natural
reveals aud that He then fitted up the earth the
asbtstion of man IN days.
I" Uadsr these circumstances let every tnteliigent
sunday school teacher and superintendent teach
without impesohing the sacred record what to
him 10 be the truth Whatever may DO the true
OF the drst oh .pters OF Genesis the soc
business OF the teaohor would appear to b simply to
teach che narrative, emphasizing It's fundamental
truths. and passing lightly over what may be called
ID, accidents OF the situation"
Since ths death of the Engiish bishop Of Jerusalem.
whose duties functions to have been very
Misty Ia their character. the high Anglcaus have
trying to prevent the sending Of another bishop
that city bv the English Government Their point Is
hat Al IL violation Of the comfy that should obtain
send such bishop to Jerusalem, which has for ages
been a see city OF the Greek Church.
Goody gocdy piety." says The Congre gat onalist
is better than piety at all, and this is the best
hich be said of it, But il s not TO be admired,
nd the sort Of books which ucucate il on hit TO DO
ept ont of the hands of our young people. There is
rowing up a literature when at once vigorous and
eyout, aud II should be the aim of every publisher
nd every Sunday school Official, 10 put examples OF no
tber kInd Into the scholars hands We have been
allied to account Indignantly than once tor tall
ng 10 praise book, the author insisting that because
tod the reader to repent aud believe in Jesus, 10
God man should refuse 10 commend il heartily. But
his Is not enough The appeal DO made sensibly
lAead Of unwiscly Ii must be made U to be win
ONE instead Vf repusiye, or 1t is OF httie value"
A Paris correspondent OF The Guardian" OF Lon.
on in account OF the consecraton Of the American
Episcopal Church IN Paris, pays the following just
ribute to Bishop II. O. Potter: @Ths sermon Was
reached by Bishop Potter. of New-York on whose
xtreme dignity and elegance OF personal bearing ana
ecuiariy graceful aud becoming in the pu pit
Is impossible not to venture a remark, though
winch he least prides himself His discourse was
9th able aud eloquent and very cure both IN diction
nd accent The right reverend prelate concluded his
interesting and often eloquent discourse by turn
lg to where Dr. Morgan sat aud addressing to him
he we'll earned ugratulatIons and thanks OF Amer.
sans both AT home aud abroad. tor the magnificent
estmonial at OF their religious feelings and
atriotism which now displayed before their ewes.
nd which mainly due tor It's creation 20 the ZEAL
Mercy and. IL may be added. generosity of ito
ospected rector"